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Ex-Wolves star Eastwood fined over fly-tipping

Former Wolves striker Freddy Eastwood has been ordered to pay more than £1,500 after rubbish belonging to him was found dumped in a lane.

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Wolves Freddy Eastwood

Former Wolves striker Freddy Eastwood has been ordered to pay more than £1,500 after rubbish belonging to him was found dumped in a lane.

Eastwood, who left Molineux for Coventry last summer after just a year, appeared before Stafford Magistrates after rubbish including carpets, prams and shoe boxes was dumped in Red Lane, Gospel End, Sedgley.

The litter was traced to Eastwood by South Staffordshire District Council officers who found electricity bills and bank statements addressed to the footballer among the refuse.

The footballer, who signed for Coventry in a £1.2 million deal, told the court he earned £1,000 a week. The 25-year-old, of Stanklyn Lane, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to transferring controlled waste without taking reasonable measures.

Venice Archer-Dyer, prosecuting for the district council, told the court a member of the public had reported household waste had been dumped illegally in Red Lane on February 20.

Council officers visited the site and found a large pile of rubbish including carpets, prams and shoe boxes.

"An electricity bill and bank statements with Mr Eastwood's name and address on them were found and as a result Mr Eastwood was contacted," she said.

Eastwood told council officers he had phoned his local authority to ask them to collect a backlog of rubbish but was told they would only collect one bin. He said an unknown man in a white van had stopped outside his home and asked if he had any rubbish. Eastwood had handed over £120 and the man, who Eastwood was unable to describe, had taken away the waste, the court heard.

Eastwood admitted he had not asked the man if he was authorised to dispose of the rubbish.

Howard Norman, in mitigation, claimed Eastwood had acted as the average person would do to get rid of their rubbish.

"This is a sin of omission rather than commission," he said.

He asked the bench to consider imposing an absolute discharge, saying the publicity was sufficient punishment.

Magistrate Chris Gooch ord-ered Eastwood to pay a fine of £750, court costs of £834 and a victim surcharge of £15, making a total of £1,599.

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